Refrigerator car



De- 8, 1942- c. D. BoNsALL Re. 22,232

l REFRIGERATOR CAR Original Filed April 24, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l ll'.' il:

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REFMGERATQR CAR 4 Original Filed April 24, v1939 2 Sheets-Shet 2 @am i i i ffl Ressued Dec. 8, 1942 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICEV REFRIGERATOR CAR.

Charles D. Bonsall, Chicago, I'll., assig'nor to Standard Railway Devices Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation 4of Delaware Original No. 2,272,543, dated February 10, 1942, Serial No. 269,696, April 24, 1939. Application for reissue September 7, 1942, Serial No.

(Cl. (i2-17) 16 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerator cars used to transport perishable commodities at a predetermined temperature. The essential features of y a refrigerator car are an insulated body to prevent or retard ingress of heat during warm weather and egress of heat' during cold weather and a cooling or heating means depending upony the prevailing outside temperature.

This invention applies particularly to cars in which the cooling means', preferably containers for water ice, eutectic ice, brine or dry ice, are suspended immediately below the ceiling of the car. The lading is supported in spaced relation to the floor by a foraminous rack. Flues,

preferably associated with the side walls of the -cooled by the containers near the opposite wall` flows through a iiue associated with said opposite wall. I claim as my improvement the provision of tanks extending between the side walls of the car. Air cooled by one tank preferably flows through a flue associated with one Wall while air cooled by the adjacent tank preferably flows through a flue associated with the opposite wall. In other words, iiues are associated with bothside walls of the car and `cold air is supplied to either ue by alternate containers. The advantages of the improvement which I have described are as follows:

4 The refrigerant containers can be secured directly to the refrigerator car walls and used to support the car roof as well as serve as containers, thus eliminating considerable structure from the upper part of the car.

The provision of greater refrigerant capacity due to the elimination of space at-the center of the car between tanks. The entire space below the roof is used for refrigerant in my improved The reduction in the number of hatches through which the refrigerant is loaded reduces cost of refrigerant loading, particularly thecost of removal and replacement of hatch plugsl and covers.

-The refrigerant, which has a very considerable mass, is moved from near the eaves of the car to adjacent the center, thereby providing a more stable car less likely to roll during service movements.

A greater surface is provided -for contact of the air with the refrigerant container, thereby providing a more efficient refrigerating system andv lower temperature of the air circulated to the lading compartment of the car.

The duct under the refrigerant container in which air is cooled during flow therethrough is longer, thus providing greater velocity and therefore greater air circulation through the lading compartment. l

It maybe desirable under certain conditions to use semi-foraminous refrigerant containers so that a portion of the melted refrigerant may flow through the flues, thus further cooling the air and also increasing air circulation due to the velocity of the liquid. The longer duct mentioned above increases the velocity of melted refrigerant and therefore the velocity of air circulation.

Other advantages of my improvement will be apparent from the following detailed description by referring to the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a Atransverse section of a refrigerator `car embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section similar to Fig. 1 but taken on a plane spaced from the plane of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section -on line 3-3 of Fig.1.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of the car shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

Figs. 5 to 'l are diagrammatic plan views showing modified constructions. l

Fig. 1 shows a transverse section of a refrigerator car having insulated roof 2, side walls 3, 4 and floor 5. Foraminous racks 6 rest upon the oor to support the lading and provide the space 1 between the lading and the floor 5. Flues 9, I0

are associated with the walls 3,'4 respectively to conduct refrigerated air from the refrigerant ,y

chamber to the space 1. The refrigerant chamber I2 is formed by the roof 2, the upper portions of the walls 3, 4 and the drip pans' men.-

The refrigerant containers f tioned hereinafter.

mentioned hereinafter are positioned within the Fig. 1, which is a section on line of Fig. 4,

shows a drip pan 39 or partition, which forms the bottom of the refrigerenat chamber 'and top of lading compartment, sloped downwardly toward the flue 9. The container 3| has a bottom 32 whose slope conforms substantially to the slope of the drip pan 3B and is spaced therefrom toy provide the duct 35. An air inlet duct 31 is provided for entrance of air from the lading compartment 38 to the duct 35 where it is cooled by contact with the bottom 32 of the container 3| and thence circulates through the flue 9 and space 1 to the lading compartment 33. The arrows 40 show the path of the circulating air. r Fig. 2 as shown in the plan of Fig. 4, is on a plane parallel with and spaced from the plane` of Fig. 1. The container 50 has a bottom 5| sloping downwardly toward the flue l0. The drip pan 53 likewise slopes downwardly toward the five I and is spaced from the bottom 5| to provide the duct I which communicates with the flue I0. A hatch 58 is preferably provided on the opposite side of the car from the hatch 51 of Fig.

l. As shown ln Fig. 4, the car is thus provided with containers 3| and hatches 51 alternating with containers 50 and hatches 5B. The arrows 40 show the direction of air flow in the ducts 35 under the containers 3| while the arrows 59 show the direction of air flow in the ducts 5l under the containers 5U. i

The side wall is preferably supported by vertical frame members or posts 19, 80 disposed within the filles 9, l0 and positioned to divide said ilues into a plurality of sections. The posts 13. 8|! are positioned substantially as shown in Fig. 4 so that the flue 9 is divided into a plurality of sections 3| and the flue isdivided into al plurality of sections 92. It should be noted that air flowing under the containers 50 in the direction indicated by the arrows 59 flows, partly to one side and partly to the other side of the post 90, intothe sections 82. Similarly, air flowing under the containers 3| in the direction indicated by the arrows l0 flows to the sections 9|. Each side wall flue is thereby provided with a supply of cold air throughout substantially its entire length., If additional posts are required, they `would be disposed between the posts 19, lil)` and perforated so that air could permeate to all partsof the flues 9, l0.

The containers 3|, 50 are preferably secured to the side wallsn 3, 4 as by the rivets 8 2. This arrangement permits the elimination of the conventional carlines and other roof frame members, the containers functioning as carlines. 63 of the containers may function as retainers to hold the roof insulation I6 in place.

Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section through the hatch 51 and container 3| as shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 also shows the end portions of two containers 50 which are positioned on either side of the container 3| as shown inv Fig. 4. The transverse members or separators G5 have oppositely inclined surfaces 56, B1 on the lower sides ythereof. The surface is inclined to conform to the slope of the drip pan 30 andthe surface B1 is inclined to conform to the slope of the drip pan 53. The drip pans 30, 53 are rigidly secured to the members 55 to prevent now of air therebevfrom the bottom of each container 15,

tween into the chamber I2. K Corrugated protecting pans I9 may be provided on the super surfaces of the drip pans 30, 53, the corrugations serving` to keep condensation or melted refrigerant distributed thereover. The members 13 in Figs. 1 and 2 may be provided to prevent moisture from condensing on the containers and falling on the lading,

Fig. 5 shows a modification in which the` similar containers 3| and 50 are arranged in pairs. It is not intended to limit the invention to similar containers arranged singly 'or in pairs but it is desired to include groups of three, four or even more containers from which air circulates to the same side of the car.

Fig. 6 shows diagrammatically an arrangement in which two drip pans are preferably spaced One of such drip pans is inclined like the drip pan 39 in Fig. l, thereby directing circulating airy to the flue 9, as shown by arrows 19 in Fig. 6. The other of such drip pans is inclined like the drip pan 53 in Fig. 2, thereby directing circulating a carline roof.

air to the flue I0, as shown by arrows 11 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 7 shows a modification in which the hatches 35 are positioned adjacent the walls to which the air in the ducts under the containers flows. The arrows 8B show the direction of flow of said air. l

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modifications `thereof, within the scope of the clalrns, will occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. In a refrigerator having a roof and spaced apart side walls, a refrigerant container below said roof extending between said side walls and means to secure opposite walls of said container to said side walls, said container functioning as for supporting at least part of said 2. In a refrigerator having spaced apart walls. a roof extending therebetween, a foraminous rack arranged to support a' lading upon the floor of the refrigerator and provide a space therebetween, fluev means associated with each of `said walls to conduct cold air to said space, a

refrigerant chamber near the roof, refrigerating means within said chamber, warm air inlet means leading to said chamber, and means providing The tops cold air discharge openings leading from said chamber to the nue means associated with both of said walls.

3. In a refrigerator having spaced apart walls, a roof extending therebetween, a foraminous rack arranged to support a lading upon the floor of ing to said chamber, and means providing cold air 'discharge openings leading from said chamber to the flue means associated with one of said walls and other cold a'ir discharge openings leading to the flue means associated with the other of said walls. y

4. In a refrigerator having spaced apart walls,

a roof extending therebetween, a foraminous tween, ilue means associated wlth'each of said walls to conduct cold air to said space, a refrigerant chamber near the roof, refrigerating means within said chamber, warm air inlet means leading to said chamber, and means providing cold air discharge openings leading from said charnber'to the flue `means associated with one of said walls and other cold air discharge openings fil in staggered relation to said first mentioned diswalls to conduct cold air to said space, a refrigerant chamber near the roof, refrigerating means within said chamber, warm air inlet ducts leading to said chamber, and means providing cold air discharge openings leading from said chamber to the flue means associated with one of said walls and other cold air discharge openings leading to the flue means associated with the other of said walls, said air inlet openings being disposed oppositely of the car from the respective discharge openings.

6. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart side walls and a roof extending therebetween, a foraminous rack arranged to support a lading upon the floor of the car and provide a space therebetween, flue means associated with each of said walls and arranged to conduc-t cold air vto said space, a plurality of refrigerant containers below the roof arranged in a line longitudinally of the car, and a drip pan below each container in spaced relation thereto tov provide a duct therebetween, the ducts below some of said containers communicating with the flue means associated with one of said walls and the others of said ducts communicating with the flue means associated with the other of said walls.

'7. In a refrigerator `car having spaced apart side walls and a roof extending therebetween, a foraminous rack arranged to support a lading upon the floor of the car and provide a space therebetween, iiue means associated with each of said walls and arranged to conductcold air to said space, a plurality of refrigerant containers below the roof arranged in a line longitudinally of the car, and a drip pan below each container in spaced relation thereto to provide a duct therebetween, the ducts below some of said containers communicating with the ue means associated with one of said walls and the other of said ducts communicating with the flue means associated with the other of said walls, said drip pans being inclined downwardly toward the flue l means with which the respective ducts communicate.

8. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart other of said ducts to the flue means associated with the other of said walls.

9. In a refrigerator car having 'spaced apart walls and a roof, flue means associated with each 4walls and a roof, flue means associated with eachof 'said walls and arranged to deliver air to the lower partv of the interior of said car, a plurality of refrigerant containers, near said roof, means cooperating with said roof and walls -to enclose said containers, said last mentioned means arranged to form in combination with said con. tainers air cooling ducts adjacent said containers and extending substantially between said walls, air inlet openings leading to said ducts, and air discharge openings leading from said ducts to said flue means. I

l0. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart walls and a roof,v flue means associated with each of said walls and arranged to deliver air to the lower part of the interior of said car, a refrigerant container near said roof, means cooperating with said container toform an air cooling space adjacent said container and air inlet means lead-A ing to said space, and air discharge openings leading from said space to the flue means associated with both of said walls.

11. In a refrigerator car having a pair of spaced apart walls and a roof, a refrigerant container disposed below said roof and extending substantially between said walls, and a'hatch in said roof adjacent one of said walls arranged for loading refrigerant therethrough into said container, thea. bottom of said container being inclined down,-

bottom of each of said containers being inclined downwardly away from the wall adjacent the respective hatch.

13. In a refrigerator car having a pair of spaced apart walls and a roof,ra refrigerant container disposed below said roof and extending substantially between said walls, a hatch in said roof adjacent -one of said walls arranged for loading re frigerant therethrough into said container, the bottom of said container being inclined downwardly toward the other of said walls, a flue associated with said last mentioned wall and arranged to conduct air to the lower part of the car, a drip pan spaced below said bottom to form an inclined duct therebetween which communicates at its lower end with the upper part of said ue, and an air inlet opening to the upper part of said duct.

14. In a refrigerator having spaced apart walls, roof and floor defining in part a lading compartment, a Aforaminous rack arranged to support a lading upon said floor and provide a space therebetween, flue means associated with each of said walls communicating with said-space, a partition spaced below said roof and extending substantially 1between said walls, a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending separators extending upwardly from said partition to provide a plurality of separated chambers extending substantially between said walls and communicating with both of said flues, refrigerating means in said chambers, the bottoms of some of said chambers declining toward one of said i'lues to direct air cooled by said refrigerating means thereinto and the bottoms of others of said chambers declining toward the other of said flues to direct `air cooled by said refrigerating means thereinto, and warm air inlet openings adjacent said walls and the higher ends of said bottoms,

whereby air cooled by said refrigerating means is directed by said declined bottoms into both of said nues from whence it ilows through said space and lading compartmentand returns to said chambers through said warm air intakes and repeats the cycle.

15. In a refrigerator having spaced apart walls, roof and oor defining in part a lading compartment, a foraminous rack arranged to support a ladingupon said door and provide a space therebetween, iiue means associated with each of said walls communicating with said space, a par-v tition spaced below said roof vand extending substantially between said Walls, a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending separators extending upwardly from said partition to provide a plurality of separated chambers extending substantially between `iaid walls, a container adapted to contain refrigerating means in tainers and said partition being spaced, parallel and declined to form ductsl some of said ducts declining toward one of said dues to direct air cooled by said refrigerating means thereinto and others of said ducts declining toward the other of said nues to direct air cooled by said refrigerating means thereinto, and warm air inlet openings adjacent said walls and the higher ends of said ducts whereby air cooled by said refrigerating means is directed by said declined ducts into both of said ues from whence it f flows through said space and lading compartment and returns to said ducts through said warm air intakes and repeats the cycle. e

16. A structur'eas defined in claim 15 including hatches in said roof and containers above the higher ends of said ducts to facilitate speeding the refrigerant over, the bottoms of the containers. l

CHARLES D. BONSALL. 

